Method and compositions for preventing retention of placenta following induced parturition in cattle

ABSTRACT

Methods employing compositions containing a long-acting glucocorticoid, as for example, dexamethasone trimethylacetate, for preventing retention of fetal membranes following induced parturition in cattle.

lJited States Patent Anderson [451 Dec. 24, 1974 [75] Inventor: Donal C. Anderson, Whakatane,

New Zealand [73] Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation,

Greenburgh, NY.

[22] Filed: July 24, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 382,246

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-of Ser. No. 242,815, April 10, 1972,

Pat. No. 3,775,539.

[52] US. Cl. 424/243, 424/241 [51] Int. Cl A61k 17/00 [58] Field of Search 424/238-243 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,743,730 7/1973 Adams 424/243 METHOD AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING RETENTION OF PLACENTA FOLLOWING INDUCED PARTURITION IN CATTLE 3,775,539 11/1973 Anderson 424/243 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Adams, J.A.V.M.A. 154(3): 251-265, (1969), The Elective Induction of Labor and Parturition in Cattle". Adams et al., J.A.V.M.A. 154(11): 1396-1397; (1967), The Elective Induction of Parturition in Cattle, Sheep and Rabbits.

Tucker, J. Dairy Sci. 48: 403405, (1965), Induction of Lactation in Pregnant Heifers with Fluoroprednisolone Acetate.

Van Rensburg, J. Endocrin. 38: 8384, (1967), Gestation in Sheep After Foetal Adremalectomy and Cortisone Acetate Administration.

Primary ExaminerShep K. Rose [57] ABSTRACT Methods employing compositions containing a longacting glucocorticoid, as for example, dexamethasone trimethylacetate, for preventing retention of fetal membranes following induced parturition in cattle.

4 Claims, No Drawings METHOD AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING RETENTION OF PLACENTA FOLLOWING INDUCED PARTURITION IN CATTLE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 242,815 filed on Apr. 10, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,539, dated Nov. 27, 1973.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE This invention relates to induction of parturition in bovine animals and more particularly to methods and compositions for the prevention of retention of placenta following induced parturition in cattle. Still more particularly, this invention pertains to methods for preventing the undesirable side-effect of retained placenta or fetal membranes in parturition induced cows by the use of certain synthetic glucocorticoids.

Synthetic corticosteroids, such as prednisolone, dexamethasone, flumethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone trimethyl acetate etc. have been widely used in the veterinary field as anti-inflammatory agents and for the treatment of bovine ketosis. These compounds have been classified according to the relative duration of therapeutic effect into short-acting and long-acting corticosteroids, the former being exemplified by prednisolone and dexamethasone and the latter, by triamcinolone acetonide and dexamethasone trimethylacetate. Short-acting glucocorticoids have recently been found effective also for parturition induction in farm animals. (Adams, The Elective Induction of Labor and Parturition in Cattle, J.A.V.M.A., 154 (3), 251-65, 1969 and Adams et al., The Elective lnduction of Parturition in Cattle, Sheep and Rabbits, J.A.V.M.A., 154 (11), 1396-97, 1969.) In cattle, for instance, calving could be advanced during the last three to four weeks of gestation by an intramuscular injection of mg of dexamethasone whereupon parturition occurred within 40 to 50 hours. Glucocorticoidinduced parturition was then heralded by investigators and veterinarians in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and South Africa as a highly useful tool in animal husbandry and the dairy and beef industry.

However, an extremely high incidence of retained fetal membranes was a consistent and serious drawback. More specifically, in practicing parturition induction in cattle by employing short-acting glucocorticoids, it has been found that in almost all cases the fetal membranes were retained with resultant serious metritis problems, e.g., purulent metritis or endometritis. Also, massive outbreaks of milk fever were encountered in this practice. Furthermore, in practicing such parturition induction the rate of success has been found to be most erratic and unpredictable with a failure rate of up to 90%, that is, parturition or calving failed to occur within 2 to 3 days which is the normal period within which short-acting glucocorticoids induce parturition and the treated cows calved after their normal gestation period as though no induction had been attempted. These and other undesirable side-effects and serious drawbacks existed even if parturition induction was practiced at a relatively late stage of pregnancy, i.e., in the last month of gestation.

These problems and complications have been recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration because they insist on a label warning in connection with the sale of glucocorticoids for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and bovine ketosis to the effect that corticosteroids administered orally or parenterally to animals may induce the first stage of parturition when administered during the last trimester of pregnancy and may precipitate premature parturition followed by dystocia, fetal death, retained placenta and metritis.

However, parturition induction in cattle presents great economic incentives and significant economic benefits and advantages would accrue if bovine parturition induction without the above-mentioned undesirable side-effects and serious problems were possible. Accordingly, it is a major object of this invention to overcome these side-effects and problems by providing improved methods and compositions for parturition induction in cattle. Another important object of this invention is to induce parturition in cows which otherwise approximates natural birth and has no adverse effeet on the calving process and the cows health, lactation and fertility. Yet another object is to induce parturition in cattle as early as 2 months or more before normal birth without serious side-effects and complications. Other objects will become apparent from the following disclosure.

Surprisingly and unexpectedly, it has now been found that the above-mentioned objects can be accomplished by employing certain long-acting glucocorticoids (hereinafter parturition-inducing agents) which possess the unique and unexpected ability to induce parturition or advance calving very consistently and without the undesirable side-effects, such as, in particularly, retained fetal membranes which commonly accompany the administration of short-acting glucocorticoids. In greater detail, this new technique for bovine parturition induction substantially without retention of placenta or without any increase in the incidence of retention of placenta involves the parenteral administration of a parturition inducing agent as for example, preferably dexamethasone-2 l -trimethylacetate (21- trimethylacetate of A -l 6a-methyl-9a-fluoropregnadiene-l 1,8: l7az2l-triol-3z20-dione or 16amethyl-9a-fluoroprednisolone trimethylacetate, hereinafter dexamethasone trimethylacetate which had heretofore been known as a highly active antiinflammatory glucocorticoid with protracted effect.

According to the concept of this invention, dexamethasone trimethylacetate can be parenterally administered to cows, at least about 220 days pregnant, i.e., within 8 weeks or less of natural calving. There is thus a potential shortening of the pregnancy by some 60 to days, which represents a very significant economic benefit and advantage especially in the dairy industry as will be seen in greater detail below. It will be appreciated, of course, by those skilled in the art that fetal viability may decrease with the degree of prematurity and where a high degree of fetal viability is desired as, for instance, in the beef industry, parturition induction attempts are preferably delayed until 4 to 6 weeks before natural calving or at least about 240 days of pregnancy. In the dairy industry, on the other hand, where fetal viability is not as critical, parturition may be induced earlier, as pointed out above.

The effectiveness of the induction of parturition is also affected by the timing of the induction. But the failure rate with inductions which occur within 4 to 6 weeks before natural parturition is only about 5% which contrasts very favorably with the erratic rate for the short-acting glucocorticoids even when they are used, as they must be, in the last month of gestation. After administration of the parturition inducing agent, the treated cows generally calve in about 1 to 3 weeks ferred embodiments, the dosage employed is conveniently 20 or 40 mg. Although the choice of dosage is not specifically related to body size, it may be influenced as will be apparent to men skilled in the art by and on average in about 11 to 13 days. The period be- 5 the size of the animal as well as its physical compositween the administration of the parturition inducing not}, the Stage of gestatlon the P of Prevlous agent and actual parturition is referred to as latent pepf g i There some evldettcei however, that riod. The latent period for short-acting glucocorticoids, Wlth a 20 dose; thedatent Perlod more of the in contrast iS generally about 2 to 3 days. The iatent order of 16 days, while it is more ofthe order of days period, it has been found, tends to be longer the earlier 10 a 40 9 in the gestation period parturition induction attempts The dosage Pt parefteral and m pamculaf are made. For some reason which is not apparent, it has mtramusclflar 0n will preferably be a {Illaiso been found that the latent period is Somewhat crocrystalline suspension of the parturition inducing longer earlier in the Spring season. This is significant in agent i dexanieihasoge tlmethylficetate L terms of the incidence of fetal death for the incidence Suspensl? f l t e i l asone t of fetai death tends to be Somewhat higher the longer lacetate in an isotonic and stabilized aqueous solution. the latent period It will be appreciated, of course, by men skilled in the According to the concept of this invention, the partuan that equwalellt formulation much does rition inducing agent can be administered parenterally. not result m rapld absorptlon and qulck uptake but Any of the various modes of parenteral administration 2 rather has slow depot releasing effects can be employed can be employed However since it is important that and is the Scope Of thlS invention. The effeCtlVethe latent period be not shorter than about a week and preventmg retetltlon of Placenta followmg preferably about two weeks, those modes of adminisducefi p t COWS accordmg t the Concept of tration which do not facilitate a rapid uptake and quick thlS mvefltlon was demonstrated and ltlustratd y bs i b rather h a depot ff d hence sults obtained in the following series of experiments.

t d and rol ed action ar ref rred, as fo protrac e l p ong e p e r EXAMPLE 1 example, intramuscular and subcutaneous in ections. Conversely, intraperitoneal and intravenous injections T0 8 group Of COWS 1n Herd NO. 00 in the Bay Of may result in a too rapid absorption of the parturition Plenty area of New Zealand, a dose of 20 mg of dexainducing agent. methasone trimethylacetate in the form of a 0.5% mi- Since, as is well established, the impetus and stimulus crocrystalline suspension was injected intramuscularly for parturition comes from the calf rather than the cow, in the thigh or hip on September 20, 197i The followintrafetal administration may be particularly desirable ing are the details:

Cow Weight Estimated Actual Latent Date lst Date No. lbs. Calviiig C alving Period Mating Conceived Date Date 31 820 8th Oct 3rd Oct 13 23rd Nov 23rd Nov 41 1035 19 do 28 Se t 8 Not mated 43 960 16th Sept 20th I 30 12th Nov 16th Dec 69 800 16th Oct 5 do. 15 7th Dec 7th Dec 103 890 29th Oct 28th Sept 8 21st Nov Empt I2] 1085 6th Oct lst Oct 1 l 23rd Nov 23rd Nov 136 990 28th Oct lst Oct 1 1 10th Nov 15th Dec 146 735 29th Oct 28th Sept 8 7th Nov 28th Nov 164 670 10th Oct 29th Sept 9 l3th Nov Em t 173 765 29th Oct 4th Oct 14 24th Nov 24t Nov 206 890 17th Oct 5th Oct 15 9th Nov 30th Nov even though it is not too easy to perform and requires In all cases, the calves were born live and in none of the a certain expertise and very sterile conditions. lntracases, except in the case of cow No. 41, was the plafetal administration is accordingly in accord with the centa retained. concept of this invention and hence within the scope of this invention. EXAMPLE 2 Moreover, administration by way of implantation of To three groups of Jersey and Friesian cross-cows at e.g. a tablet or some other equivalent dosage unit form t the Ruakura Animal Research Station in New Zealand, may also be ahighly advantageous mode of administraconsisting of 6, 5 and 6 animals each and weighing tion because of the obvious and desirable depot effect about 600 to 1,000 pounds, doses of i0 mg., 20 mg. which is therefore also in accord with the inventive and 40 mg. of dexamethasone trimethylacetate in the concept and within the scope of this invention. form of a 0.5% microcrystalline suspension were given Lastly, it is entirely feasible to employ an intramamby one intramuscular injection in the thigh or hip. The mary infusion and to administer the parturition inducfollowing are the experimental details: mg agentPrally- Cow No. Weight Date Date Actual Latent According to the concept of this invention the effeclbs. Treated Due Calving Period tive dosage of parturition inducing agent can range between about 10 and 60 mg. Actual dosages used in sev- M 444 l0l0** 9/3 9/19 9/14 ll eral series of experiments were 10, 20, 25, 30 and 40 928 9/3 10/2 9/17 14 mg. all of which resulted in favorable responses. In pre- 460 9/3 l0/1 9/29 26 -Continued Cow No. Weight Date Date Actual Latent lbs. Treated Due Calving Period 20 mg. Dose (4 cc) 40 mg. Dose (8 cc) *Calves were dead "Weighed on 9/8, :11] others were weighed on 9/1 All dates are in 1971.

There was no case of retention of placenta.

1n the above experiments as well as in thousands of similar experiments conducted in New Zealand and Australia, early parturition or calving was successfully induced (except in two cases where however subsequent investigation revealed the presence of a mummified fetus in the uterus) and in none of them was there any higher than normal incidence of retained fetal membranes or placenta, normal incidence being about 1%.

In contrast thereto, in similar parturition induction experiments where a short-acting dexamethasone formulation was used, parturition was induced in about two or three days, the induction success rate was highly erratic and the incidence of retention of placenta and of milk fever extremely high.

In addition, the parturition induced with dexamethasone trimethylacetate approximated natural birth and had no adverse effect on the calving process nor on the cows health, lactation and fertility. As regards the calving process itself, there was no higher than normal incidence of dystocia. With respect to the general health of the cows there was no increased incidence of such metabolic disorders as hypocalcaemia (milk fever) and hypomagnesaemia (grass tetany) and the cows were otherwise in good health and condition.

With respect to lactation, the longer the period between treatment and calving which elapses when dexamethasone trimethylacetate is used as parturition inducing agent, seems to allow better preparation for lactation by the cow. Thus, milk and butterfat production appears to be at least normal. However, in another sense there is increased milk production. Typically, in a 365 day cycle, U.S. dairy cows are milked for 305 days and are dry for 60 days. Through the induction of early parturition, the dairy man can increase the number of milk production days in a year.

Likewise, the use of a long-acting parturitioninducing agent does not effect subsequent fertility of the cow and in at least one instance one cow has been induced three times successively and successfully. As regards calf viability, the calves which are born, though they are somewhat underweight are capable of survival and can usually be reared without great difficulty.

These findings and observations translate into tremendeous benefits to the dairy and beef industry and especially to the farmer. More specifically, early parturition induction is particularly useful if the feed supplies are seasonal of if the management of the herd is made difficult by late births. An example is the situation in New Zealand where calving in milking herds is undesirable after October 1. Also, the rearing of calves born late is more problematic. Furthermore, first heifers and cows which have difficulties and traumas in calving can be subjected to early parturition induction in accordance with this invention which is a further obvious economic advantage.

Apart from its function as a management tool in animal husbandry and apart from the significant economic benefits, early parturition induction may also and secondarily be resorted to for medical reasons, e.g. to terminate gestations which have run too far over their time, to control fetal development where gross fetal oversize could be expected to cause dystocia at full term parturition, in cases of acute and chronic traumatic reticulitis, circulatory incompetence with bronchial pneumonia, pregnancy toxemia, amniotic dropsy (hydrops), kidney diseases, fractures etc.

While the invention has been illustrated and its effectiveness demonstrated by particular reference to dexamethasone trimethylacetate as parturition-inducing agent and while dexamethasone trimethylacetate represents the preferred parturition-inducing agent, it has also been found that other similarly active synthetic glucocorticoids can be employed in the practice of this invention provided, of course, that they exhibit slow and long lasting effects and can thus be classified as long-lasting glucocorticoids and are not administered in a vehicle or by way of a mode of administration which facilitates rapid uptake by the bloodstream or rapid transfer from the depot to the bloodstream. Other glucocorticoids, even though they may inherently not possess long-lasting properties can also be employed if either the vehicle or the mode of administration or both are designed to achieve a long-lasting depot effect and a latent period of at least a week and usually about two weeks is obtained.

Examples of such other long-lasting glucocorticoids exhibiting depot effects are the congener esters of dexamethasone trimethylacetate described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,261. Moreover, further examples of effective glucocorticoid-2l-esters are dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate, dexamethasone-2 1 cyclohexylacetate, dexamethasone- 1 7,2 l dipropionate, etc. Still further examples are the 21- esters of triamcinolone and the acetonides thereof.

Dexamethasone, betamethasone and particularly flumethasone as well as triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide and other glucocorticoids themselves may also be used provided, of course, they are employed in a way that is designed to achieve a depot effect and long-lasting action and hence a latent period of about one to three weeks.

ln fact, a number of parturition induction experiments have already been carried out without increased incidence of retention of placenta with dexamethasone-2l-isonicotinate, triamcinolone acetonide, and also with flumethasone 9a, difluoro-l6amethylprednisolone) where the vehicle was an isotonic aqueous suspension and the mode of administration intramuscular injection. All such long-lasting glucocorticoid substances and formulations are therefore within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

lowing induced parturition in cows which comprises parenterally administering to cows, pregnant for at least 220 days, 10 to 60 mg. of a parturition-inducing glucocorticoid substance exhibiting depot effects and long-lasting action or contained in a slow releasing formulation, with parturition taking place after a latent period of at least about seven days.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said parturition-inducing glucocorticoid is selected from the group consisting of flumethasone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide. 

1. A METHOD OF PREVENTING RETENTION OF PLACENTA FOLLOWING INDUCED PARTURITION IN COWS WHICH COMPRISES PARENTERALLY ADMINISTERING TO COWS, PREGNANT FOR AT LEAST ABOUT 220 DAYS, 10 TO 60 MG. OF A LONG-LASTING PARTURITION-INDUCING 21-ESTERFIED GLUCOCORTICOID WITH PARTURITION TAKING PLACE AFTER A LATENT PERIOD OF AT LEAST ABOUT SEVEN DAYS.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said long-lasting parturition-inducing 21-esterified glucocorticoid is selected from the group consisting of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate and dexamethasone-21-cyclohexylacetate.
 3. A method of preventing retention of placenta following induced parturition in cows which comprises parenterally administering to cows, pregnant for at least 220 days, 10 to 60 mg. of a parturition-inducing glucocorticoid substance exhibiting depot effects and long-lasting action or contained in a slow releasing formulation, with parturition taking place after a latent period of at least about seven days.
 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said parturition-inducing glucocorticoid is selected from the group consisting of flumethasone, dexamethasone, triamcinolone, triamcinolone acetonide. 